Building construction demonstration device



g- 28, 1956 s. L. KEENE 2,760,277

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION DEMONSTRATION DEVICE Filed April 1, .1955 v s Sheets-Shet 1 FIG-.1

INVENTOR. SHEFFoau L. Keene S. L. KEENE Aug. 28, 1956 BUILDING CONSTRUCTION DEMONSTRATION DEVICE Filed April 1, 1955,

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 PIG. Q

INVENTOR. SH'EFFoao L.KEENE WW 00m ATTolzusYs S. L. KEENE Aug. 28, 1956 BUILDING CONSTRUCTION DEMONSTRATION DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 1, 1955 JNVENTOR. Sun-Fm! L. Keene BUILDING CONSTRUCTION DEMONSTRATION DEVICE Shefiord L. Keene, Hampton, Va.

Application April 1, 1955, Serial No. 498,725

3 Claims. (CI. 35-49) This invention relates to a device for demonstrating the construction of buildings, and more particularly has reference to a device that includes a model building constructed similarly to a full size building, that is, with conventional siding, roofing, etc., and means for depositing on the roof of the building a continuous fall of water in finely divided droplets simulating a rain.

It is desirable, in the promotion of the sale of certain building sidings and roofings, to demonstrate forcefully, by visual means, to the potential customer the resistance of the particular product to penetration by moisture, condensation, and other deteriorating efiects. Obviously, proof of the eflicacy of the product is diflicult to make when the product is observed in full size buildings, partly because of the location of said buildings, resulting in excessive loss of time during the visiting of the buildings, etc., and partly because of the fact that a normal rainfall, over a period of time, is not sufficient to demonstrate properly the resistance of the product to penetration by moisture.

In view of the above, the main object of the present invention is to provide a demonstration device that can be used to show the worth of a product, under conditions approximating continuous rainfall. Thus, the demonstra-tion device can be erected at home shows, in the sales oifices of firms distributing roofing and siding products, and at other convenient, central locations. Further, the simulation of rainfall, under controlled conditions can approximate that which would be expected, for example, over a period of many years under ordinary weather conditions, and in this way, the potential buyer may observe readily the marked resistance of the product toward moisture penetration.

Other objects will appear from the following description, the claims appended thereto, and from the annexed drawing, in which like reference characters designate like parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure l is a top plan view of a demonstration device formed according to the present invention, a portion of the roof-covering shield being broken away;

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken transversely through the device on line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of the demonstration device;

Figure 4 is an enlarged, detail sectional view on line 44 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is an enlarged, detail sectional view through the spray head on line 55 of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is an enlarged, detail sectional view of the device for drawing water out of the reservoir for reuse; and

Figure 7 is a detail, enlarged sectional View on line 77 of Figure 2 showing the overflow means for the tank.

The demonstration device constituting the present invention can be made in any desired size, and, to permit its erection within a relatively small area, would ordii nited States Patent 0 ice;

nan'ly be constructed as a miniature building constituting a scale model of a full size building.

In any event, the demonstration device includes four main components, these constituting a reservoir generally designated =10, a platform generally designated #12, a building 14, and a shield '16.

The reservoir is formed as an open-topped, rectangular receptacle 18 which may be recessed in a suitable base B, which base may be fashioned to simulate a building lot with grass, shrubbery, etc.

The receptacle 18, at the top edge of one of the side walls thereof, is provided with an outwardly projecting, elongated edge 20, which may be provided with angularly related creases 22 to strengthen the same, the ledge 20 being integrally formed with an inclined support wall 24 disposed angularly relative to the planes of the ledge and the adjacent wall of the receptacle.

Overflow means is provided within the receptacle, for the purpose of preventing the level of water from rising above a predetermined elevation within the receptacles. Said means, as shown in Figure 7, includes a sleeve 26 having external threads, said sleeve being positioned through a smooth-walled opening formed within the bottom of the receptacle 18. Threaded upon the sleeve, above and below the bottom wall, are flat nuts 28, 30, compressing against the opposite surfaces of the bottom wall resiliently compressible sealing gaskets '32, to prevent leakage between the exterior of the sleeve and the edge of the sleeve-receiving opening of the bottom wall.

Below the bottom wall of the receptacle, there is threaded on the sleeve a connecting nipple or fitting 34, which is adapted to secure to the sleeve a drain pipe B6.

On the upper end of the sleeve, within the receptacle, there is provided an internally tapered neck, receiving the complimentarily tapered depending extentions B8 of an overflow of standpipe 40 projecting upwardly within the receptacle 18.

The platform is relatively low in height, and includes upstanding, low, side and end walls 42. One of the side walls constitutes the front of the platform, and secured thereto is a front stoop 44 which is supported upon the ledge 20 of the receptacle 18. A floor 46 is also provided as a part of the platform, and the entire platform, as will be apparent, simulates a conventional building foundation, rising a short distance above the surface of.

the ground.

T he building 14, though of miniature size, is preferably formed by following conventional building practices used in the erection of full size building. This adds to the faithfulness of the demonstration, since, it is apparent to the viewer that the building being constructed like a full size building, is subjected to the same deteriorating forces.

Thus, the building 14 includes a building frame generally designated 48, which frame includes the usual studding, spaced apart a distance approximating the spacing of a full size building. Further, siding 50 is applied to the frame, and it will be understood that in use of the demonstration device, the siding 50 may comprise any particular type of siding, such as clapboard, shingles, etc. Since the demonstration device is to be used to show the resistance of the siding, as well as the roofing, to the adverse effects resulting from exposure of these products to the elements, the siding will be identical, though on a smaller scale, to the full size product manufactured by the company making use of the demonstration device.

At one end, the building is left open as at 52 (Figure 3) so that the interior of the building is visible and a viewer can satisfy himself as to the adaptability of the siding and roofing for preventing moisture from penetrating said interior.

Further, roofing shingles and sheathing are applied to the building frame, the sheathing being designated at 54 and the roofing shingles being designated at 56. A chimney '58 projects upwardly through the roof, and is provided with flashing 69 and a chimney cap 62. Thus, the device is used not only for demonstrating siding and roofing, but also chimney flashing and the like.

The shield 16 is formed as a transparent piece of plastic material, integrally formed to include a flat, honizontally disposed top wall 64 spaced above the ridge peak of the building a substantial distance, and depending side walls 66 and end walls 68. The end walls 68 are formed at their lower edges with notches 70 of inverted V-shape complementing the roof formation, so as to permit the shield to seat upon the roof in the manner shown in Figure 2.

Extending into the reservoir '10 is a water supply pipe 72' leading from a source of water under pressure, the flow of water through said pipe being controlled by a valve 74. Within the reservoir, the pipe 72 is connected to one end of an elongated, foraminous sleeve 76 of known construction, having a substantial number of perforations 78. Connected to the other end of the tubular element 76 is a series of pipe sections 80, connected end to end as shown in Figure 2, to provide a connecting pipe extending from the reservoir to a spray head 82 mounted upon the underside of the top wall 64, of shield 16.

When water is flowing through the pipe 72, 80, it will be discharged through the spray head, and will fell upon the roof and chimney in a manner simulating a rainfall. The water drops upon the roof in finely divided droplets, and can be permitted to fall continuously, 'over a substantial period of time. Thus, by maintaining proper records as to the amount of time the water is flowing through the spray head onto the roof, and as to the quantity 'of water passing through the spray head, it is possible to establish that the roof is being subjected to a simulated rainfall, equivalent, for example, to the amount of rain that would fall upon a conventional roof over a predetermined period of time, as for example '5 and years.

'In this way, one is able to visually demonstrate to a viewer the adaptability of the particular type of roofing or siding for resisting the deteriorating effects of the elements.

Referring to Figures 1 and 4', it will be seen that at its ends, the shield 16 is supported in gable end troughs 84 of U-shaped cross section, having lateral extensions engaging in the roof assembly of the building 14. Further, the lower edges of the side walls '16 will, as will be understood, be spaced a short distance above the roofing shingles, thus to permit Water striking the roof to flow out from under the shield into gutters 86, for passage down downspouts :88. The. water, after flowing through the downspouts passes into return pipes 90, and thendrops into the reservoir 10, for reuse. It will be understood that the tubular member 76, when water is flowing under pressure through the pipe 72, will cause the water within the reservoir to be sucked back into the pipe 80, for recirculation. The tubular element 76 is, per se, a known device and does not in and of itself constitute part of the invention.

The construction illustrated and described, of course, may have other uses, and could be used for demonstra tion purposes in other than the building industries, in order to carry out the importance or advantages in the use of a particular type of material manufactured in; said other industries.

'It. is believed apparent that the invention is not necessarily confined to the specific use or uses thereof described above, since it may be utilized for any purpose to which it may be suited. Nor is the invention to be necessarily limited to the specific construction illustrated and described, since such construction is only intended to be illustrative of the principles, it being considered that the invention comprehends any minor change in construction that may be permitted within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A demonstration device comprising a reservoir embodying an open top rectangular receptacle and having a ledge projecting outwardly from one of the side walls of said receptacle; a platform including upstanding side and end walls and having a front stoop projecting from one of said side walls superimposed upon said receptacle so that the front stoop .rests upon said legs; a building structure supported upon said platform and including a roof assembly; a transparent shield extending upwardly from the building structure and substantially enclosing said roof assembly; a spray head carried by the shield above the roof assembly; means for forcing water from the reservoir through the spray head for deposit on the roof assembly; and means for returning the water so deposited to the reservoir for recirculation through the spray head.

2. A demonstration device comprising a reservoir embodying an open top rectangular receptacle and having a ledge projecting outwardly from one of the side walls of said receptacle; a platform including upstanding side and end walls and having a front stoop projecting from one of said side walls superimposed upon said receptacle so that the front stoop rests upon said legs; a building structure supported upon said paltform, said structure including a roof; a transparent shield removably seated upon the roof of the building structure and substantially enclosing the roof, said shield including a horizontal top Wall spaced above the roof a substantial distance and de-' pending side and end walls integral with the periphery of the top wall, the side and end walls terminating at their lower ends in closely spaced relation to the roof; a spray head carried by said shield above the roof; means for forcing water from the reservoir through the spray head for deposit on the roof; and means for returning the water so deposited to the reservoir for recirculation through the spray head.

3. A demonstration device comprising a reservoir; a building structure supported thereabove including a roof, said structure including at opposite sides of the roof gutters and downspouts extending from said gutters and connected in communication at their outlet ends with the reservoir, said structure further including gable end troughs communicating at their ends with the respective gutters; a transparent shield extending upwardly from and supported upon the roof of the building structure and substantially enclosing the roof, said shield including a horizontal top wall spaced above the roof and a plurality of depending side and end Walls, the side walls at their lower ends terminating in closely spaced relation to the roof and the end walls of the shield seating in the gable end troughs; a spray head carried by the top wall of the shield above the roof; and means for forcing Water from the reservoir through the spray head for deposit on the roof, for flow of the water into the gable end troughs and gutters, for passage through the downspouts into the reservoir for recirculation through the spray head.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,762,126 "Smith, June 3, 1930 1,804,519 Smith May 12, 1931 1,833,726 Stoddard Nov. 214, 1931 1,837,225 Lipski Dec. 22, 1931 2,045,898 Cullison June "30, 1936 2,294,5'11 Neiman Sept. 1, 1942 2,294,512 Neiman, Sept. '1, 1942 

